Sara
Sara looked around the bar Thea had forced her too around midnight. Packed nearly shoulder to shoulder multiple people had already approached her but none had stood out. She was danced out and tired at this point she could feel the alcohol in her veins, and she was going to feel it tomorrow. Not like it mattered Oliver could give two shits about his team; he just signed the payroll checks. He didn’t even understand the rules of the game, Sara had tried multiple times to sit down and explain to him, but she finally realized he wasn’t invested.
Central City was dead last four weeks into the season, Sara found herself walking through the people pushing through the sweaty bodies realizing she needed air. When she burst through the door to the outside world, she took a deep breath and immediately felt the acid from her stomach reach her throat. She ran to an alley and bent over quickly as the contents of her stomach fell to the ground just inches from her feet.
Sara leaned against the wall closing her eyes, wondering what she was doing with her life. Here she was playing professionally and about to go to USWNT camp, and she was at a bar with the sister of her team’s owner. She opened her eyes and looked up at the stars praying for a change. Just something to make the last few years make sense. She loved her team but she hated losing and it was beginning to wear her down if she was honest.
Two weeks later Oliver called her and asked her to meet him for lunch. Now she was worried had Thea done something or had he possibly figured out about their bar hopping and was putting a stop to it. Nope never in her wildest dreams had she thought he would say what he said.
“You’re what?” Sara said a little to loudly across from Oliver at the nice restaurant, of course he had to take her to one with table clothes and dim lighting.
“I’m selling the team.” Oliver said firmly as Sara felt her world crash around her. “It’s no longer finically viable the team is losing and its bleeding money.”
“Well yeah because you have done absolutely nothing to support us.” Sara said angrily through her teeth. “Who are you selling too?”
“Well we have a couple buyers interested so I am not quite sure at this time and we probably wont finalize until the end of the season anyways.” Oliver said. “That way they can move players around and build a new team.”
“Move players around?” Sara said she could feel her face flushing as the anger spread.
“Sara, it’s a business decision and I hope you can see that.” Oliver added and that was it Sara snapped.
“How my sister put up with you for three years is beyond me and why I even thought for a milli-second being with you was a good idea. You are the absolute epitome of asshole did you know that.” Sara stood up and Oliver looked confused.
“Sara sits down.” He said in a quiet grunt, and she refused. “What’s gotten into you?” he asked.
“This is my life you’re talking about, you just make it sound like nothing but when you sell this team I could be traded to anywhere. Gotham, Kansas City, or even Portland. And you just don’t care at all.” She said and then she leaned down to say the final thing. “If I end up in Houston I will come and kick your ass so badly Felicity will question if you are able to father children in the future.” She pushed off the table and stomped out of the restaurant.
Sara was met with a cold chill and then realized she had left her coat at the table but there was no way she was going back in there now. She walked into the darkness not sure where she was going, just needing to be anywhere else. How could he do this, selling the team put her entire future on the line. Not just hers but a plethora of amazing players on the roster with her. What if the new owner was awful, what if they were like Rebecca in Ted Lasso before she started to believe in him. She found herself on her sister’s street without even realizing her feet had taken her there. Laurel was a safe space for her.
She stomped up the steps to her sister’s home and knocked on the door. When the door opened Sara’s eyes went wide in shock as her blue eyes met the grey blue eyes of her enemy. “Ava?” Sara whispered.
Laurel came and sat next to Sara who had made her way to the couch her eyes watching as Ava cleaned the dishes in the kitchen that was just off the living room. She could feel so many things, anger that her enemy was in her safe place, jealousy because her enemy was with her sister, and lastly another feeling one she would chalk up to being just plain pissed off.
“What’s up?” Laurel said.
“What is Sharpe doing here?” Sara asked looking at her sister who just raised her eyebrow.
“You know, I do have friends.” Laurel replied and Sara squinted her eyes at her sister. “What I do!” She exclaimed. “And beyond what you think just because she is your mortal enemy doesn’t mean she is mine. We have been friends for years.”
“You never said anything.” Sara said.
“Well, it honestly just never came up.” Laurel said looking over her shoulder towards Ava and then back to her sister. “Besides she needed a place to stay for a little bit so I offered her my spare room.”
“What the hell Laurel?” Sara replied angrily.
“My house Sara, I don’t have to ask your permission to have a roommate now that you have your own place.” Laurel said leaning back on the couch. “Now enough of this, what’s up? How was your dinner with Ollie?”
“Horrible.” Sara said, looking over Laurel’s shoulder at Ava and then back to her sister she leaned in and kept her voice low. “He is selling the team.”
“What!” Laurel said loudly as Sara tried to cover her mouth as Laurel tried to spew angry words.
“Keep it down will yah.” Sara said and Laurel nodded causing Sara to drop her hand from her mouth. “It’s exactly how I felt.”
“What does this mean?” Laurel asked.
“I really don’t know.” Sara said softly and started to play with the hem of her shirt. “I just know its not good.”
“So that’s it, just like that he can sell the team and none of you will know what your future is?” Laurel asked and Sara nodded. “I just don’t know what to say about this.” She added.
“It’s not necessarily a bad thing.” Ava’s voice came from the other side of the room and both Lance women snapped their heads towards her. One with a smile and one with a scowl.
“Do you mind Sharpe this is private conversation.” Sara grunted and Ava nodded.
“Sorry, I just… I overheard when I turned the water off.” Ava started to walk toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms and stopped quickly, turning to Sara. “I’m sorry to hear what’s happening with the team.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you are.” Sara said not looking towards Ava who tilted her head.
“You don’t know me very well, that much is true but I can say without a doubt that I mean what I am saying. I can’t imagine being in the position you are in right now. And after how hard every member of your team has worked I am truly very sorry about what you are about to go through.” Ava finished and turned only to stop and turn back when she heard the scoff come from Sara. Sara was now standing and looking at Ava.
“You wouldn’t know anything Sharpe, you have had everything handed to you.” Sara grunted and crossed her arms over her chest.
“You don’t know anything about me Lance. Maybe you should keep your mouth shut.” Ava said angrily as her eyes darkened.
“Oh, I know you. You are a mean, spiteful person. You don’t care who you have to run over to get to the top. Everyone just adores you, the greatest thing since sliced damn cheese. Well I have to work for every ounce, every minute of playing time, every person’s trust.” Sara said.
“Trust is earned Lance, and I earned every person’s trust on my team, by working hard everyday giving one hundred and fifty percent every day. Don’t presume to know anything about me, you have no idea what I have been through to get to where I am!” Ava’s voice was getting louder, and she took a step forward.
“The Luthor’s have their own kid playing on that team, not to mention I’m sure it was just a happy accident they ended up with both Danvers and then you and Nora.” Sara replied angrily.
“You want to know the difference between our teams, the real difference.” Ava growled as they were almost toe to toe with each other. They stared each other down and finally Ava said what she wanted too. “The Luthor’s actually invest in the program, they actually love the sport. Unlike Oliver Queen who couldn’t kick a ball ten feet if he wanted to. Probably doesn’t even know the difference between a soccer ball and damn volleyball. Him selling might actually be the best thing that happens to your team.”
“So I think this is a good time to end this conversation.” Laurel said popping up from the couch facing both woman who were still staring each other down.
“How are you friends with her?” Sara asked, looking at Laurel and then back to Ava. “She’s awful, she’s self-centered and an all around bitch.” Sara saw the moment Ava’s eyes filled with tears. Ava turned quickly and left the room without another word a loud thud was heard down the hallway from the slamming door of the guest room. Laurel stood staring at Sara in disbelief.
“Sara, that was incredibly uncalled for.” Laurel said in a scornful tone. “You don’t even really know Ava, and you don’t know what she is going through right now.” She added.
“Whatever it is im sure she deserved it.” Sara grunted and that was it for Laurel.
“Get out!” Laurel declared and Sara looked at her in shock.
“What?” Sara asked.
“You heard me.” Laurel replied. “I said get out, you have no right to come in here and say the things you just said and…..Sara you just have no idea what she is going through and honestly you’re being the self-centered one right now. So please leave.” Sara shook her head and stormed her way to the front door and slammed it closed as she left.